Wi-Fi Permitted in Green Bank Observatory's Silent Zone for Initial Occasion
In a significant development, the Green Bank Observatory in West Virginia has announced that Wi-Fi will be allowed within the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ) surrounding the observatory, marking a major change for the rural community of Green Bank.
The NRQZ, established in 1958, spans approximately 13,000 square miles and prohibits the use of devices that create emissions, such as radios and Wi-Fi routers, to prevent local signals from impacting the observatory's readings. However, the new regulation allows Wi-Fi operation only on the 2.4 GHz frequency band, with higher frequency bands such as 5 GHz and 6 GHz remaining disabled to minimize radio frequency interference.
This change applies to residents and businesses within the roughly 10-mile radius around the observatory, previously heavily restricted to prevent interference with sensitive radio telescopes. The Green Bank Observatory is proceeding cautiously, treating the allowance of 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi as an experimental measure. They will monitor possible impacts on scientific observations and spectrum usage over the next several years to assess any interference.
One of the key beneficiaries of this change is the Green Bank Elementary-Middle School (GBEMS), which is next to the U.S. National Science Foundation Green Bank Telescope. GBEMS Principal Melissa Jordan stated that this change is a "big, positive change" for the school and will provide equal opportunities for students. The school has already begun using Wi-Fi on 2.4 GHz, with planned precautions such as turning off the system when not in use and maintaining security measures.
Community engagement has been a crucial part of the process, with presentations and listening sessions conducted to explain the changes and gather input. The arrangement is not formalized by contracts but is an understanding encouraging community members in the zone to comply voluntarily to protect radio astronomy research.
Despite its name, the Quiet Zone is not completely silent due to the allowance of certain devices for specific purposes. In fact, journalist Stephen Kurczy, author of The Quiet Zone: Unraveling the Mystery of a Town Suspended in Silence, states that the Quiet Zone is not as quiet as often portrayed due to the presence of Wi-Fi. Kurczy found it difficult to locate anyone without Wi-Fi in Green Bank.
The rural community of Green Bank, where the observatory is located, has about 250 people. Approximately 70 Wi-Fi hotspots were present within 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) of the observatory's telescopes five years before Kurczy's arrival. By 2021, nearly 200 Wi-Fi hotspots were present within the same area. Smartphones are not banned in the Quiet Zone.
This development marks a significant step forward for the Green Bank Observatory, which, despite being the oldest federal radio astronomy facility in the United States, has been missing one pivotal ingredient in the advancement of technology: access to the Internet. The observatory's allowance of Wi-Fi is a testament to its commitment to balancing modern technology needs with the requirements of scientific research.
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